We put leaves under peach

 tree (after a couple inches of frost) to cover the roots, slow down thaw,
protect against early budding that could be lost to a late frost. Done
yesterday with leaves bagged an saved for that purpose last fall.

 reproach
him.

193. Quid fiet hominibus qui minima contemnunt, majora non credunt?[24]

194. ... Let them at least learn what is the religion they attack, before
attacking it. If this religion boasted of having a clear view of God, and of
possessing it open and unveiled, it would be attacking it to say that we see
nothing in the world which shows it with this clearness. But since, on the
contrary, it says that men are in darkness and estranged from God, that He
has hidden Himself from their knowledge, that this is in fact the name which
He gives Himself in the Scriptures, Deus absconditus;25 and finally, if it
endeavours equally to establish these two things: that God has set up in the
Church visible signs to make Himself known to those who should seek Him
sincerely, and that He has nevertheless so disguised them that He will only
be perceived by those who seek Him with all their heart; what advantage can
they obtain, when, in the negligence with which they make profession of
being in search of the truth, they cry out that nothing reveals it to them;
and since that darkness in which they are, and with which they upbraid the
Church, establishes only one of the things which she affirms, without
touching the other, and, very far from destroying, proves her doctrine?

In order to attack it, they should have protested that they had made every
effort to seek Him everywhere, and even in that which the Church proposes
for their instruction, but without satisfaction. If they talked in this
manner, they would in truth be attacking one of her pretensions. But I hope
here to show that no reasonable pe

 deliverer should come, who would crush the demon's head, and free His
people from their sins, ex omnibus iniquitatibus;[143] that there should be
a New Covenant, which would be eternal; that there should be another
priesthood after the order of Melchisedek, and it should be eternal; that
the Christ should be glorious, mighty, strong, and yet so poor that He would
not be recognised, nor taken for what He is, but rejected and slain; that
His people who denied Him should no longer be His people; that the idolaters
should receive Him, and take refuge in Him; that He should leave Zion to
reign in the centre of idolatry; that nevertheless the Jews should continue
for ever; that He should be of Judah, and when there should be no longer a
king.

                     SECTION XII: PROOFS OF JESUS CHRIST

737. Therefore I reject all other religions. In that way I find an answer to
all objections. It is right that a God so pure should only reveal Himself to
those whose hearts are purified. Hence this religion is lovable to me, and I
find it now sufficiently justified by so divine a morality. But I find more
in it.

I find it convincing that, since the memory of man has lasted, it was
constantly announced to men that they were universally corrupt, but that a
Redeemer should come; that it is not one man who said it, but innumerable
men, and a whole nation expressly made for the purpose and prophesying for
four thousand years. This is a nation which is more ancient than every other
nation. Their books, scattered abroad, are four thousand years old.

The more I examine them, the more truths I find in them: an entire nation
foretell Him before His advent, and an entire nation worship Him after His
advent; what has preceded and what has followed; in short, people without
idols and kings, this synagogue which was foretold, and these wretches who
frequent it and who, being our enemies, are admirable wi

 ardor and
burning of heart, like to which they never experienced before;
sometimes, perhaps, occasioned only by the mention of Christ's name, or
some one of the divine perfections. There are new appetites, and a new
kind of breathings and pantings of heart, and groanings that cannot be
uttered. There is a new kind of inward labor and struggle of soul
towards heaven and holiness.

Some who before were very rough in their temper and manners, seemed to
be remarkably softened and sweetened. And some have had their souls
exceedingly filled, and overwhelmed with light, love, and comfort, long
since the work of God has ceased to be so remarkably carried on in a
general way; and some have had much greater experiences of this nature
than they had before. There is still a great deal of religious
conversation continued in the town, amongst young and old; a religious
disposition appears to be still maintained amongst our people, by their
holding frequent private religious meetings; and all sorts are generally
worshipping God at such meetings on Sabbath-nights, and in the evening
after our public lecture. Many children in the town still keep up such
meetings among themselves. I know of no one young person in the town who
has returned to former ways of looseness and extravagance in any
respect; but we still remain a reformed people, and God has evidently
made us a new people.

I cannot say that there has been no instance of any one person who has
conducted himself unworthily; nor am I so vain as to imagine that we
have not been mistaken in our good opinion concerning any; or that there
are none who pass amongst us for sheep, that are indeed wolves in
sheep's clothing; and who probably may, some time or other, discover
themselves by their fruits. We are not so